Crosby, Ovechkin and Tavares named Hart Trophy finalists

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Sidney Crosby of Pittsburgh and Washington's
Alex Ovechkin are once again finalists for the Hart Trophy, while John Tavares
of the New York Islanders is also in the running for the NHL's Most Valuable
Player.

Crosby captured the award in 2007 before Ovechkin was honored in 2008 and '09.
Another win for Ovechkin would make the Russian star just the eighth player
with as many as three MVPs, joining Wayne Gretzky (9), Gordie Howe (6), Eddie
Shore (4), Bobby Clarke (3), Mario Lemieux (3), Howie Morenz (3) and Bobby Orr
(3).

Tavares, meanwhile, would become just the second Islander to win the Hart,
joining Brian Trottier in 1979. He helped the Islanders reach the Stanley Cup
playoffs for the first time since 2007, finishing third in the league with 28
goals while totaling a team-best 47 points in 48 games.

Crosby, also a finalist in 2010, tied for third in the league with 56 points
despite missing the final 12 games of the season because of a broken jaw. His
46 assists were second in the NHL and his points-per-game average of 1.56 led
the league.

The 25-year-old native of Nova Scotia posted a career-best plus-26 rating and
helped Pittsburgh to the top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. He could
become the second straight Penguin to win the award, following Evgeni Malkin
last year.

Ovechkin, one of 11 players to win the Hart in consecutive years, led the NHL
with 32 goals, scoring 23 in his final 23 games. He tied Crosby for third in
the league with 56 points, was first in power-play goals with 16 and led the
Capitals to their fifth Southeast Division title in the past six years. The
27-year-old Moscow native was also a finalist in 2010.

Members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association submitted ballots for
the Hart Trophy at the conclusion of the regular season, with the top three
vote-getters designated as finalists.